Excessive speed contributed to many of the crashes. There was a head-on crash on U.S. Highway 40 just east of Steamboat II. Elliott said a car lost control and drifted into oncoming traffic before being T-boned. He estimated the cars were going between 40 and 45 mph when they crashed.

Other crashes included a car that hit a deer and a rollover crash on Colorado Highway 134.

Numerous semis got stuck on Rabbit Ears Pass, but U.S. 40 was never shut down.

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With the full onset of winter, appointment slots with local mechanics filled up by people hoping to get their snow tires put on.

On Tuesday, drivers were told they would have to wait until Dec. 11 to get their tires swapped out at Bob's Downtown Conoco and Dec. 10 at GCR Tires and Service. At Black Diamond Automotive, the soonest appointment time was Nov. 30.

The early birds can get tires put on at Yampa Valley Tire Pros & Express Lube, where Jonathan Jarriel said it is first-come, first-served. They do 40 cars per day starting at 6:30 a.m., and their daily schedule is usually filled up by 7 a.m.

"A brief break in the wintry weather is forecast early Thursday before a similar, but stronger, wave brings another shot of snow and colder temperatures for Friday," Weissbluth wrote. "If this wave holds together as advertised, another five to 10 inches of snow should be reported on the hill (Mount Werner) by Saturday morning."

He said there was a chance of snow Sunday before another break in the weather.

"It appears likely we will get some sort of weather around Thanksgiving, though the details are obscure at this time," Weissbluth said.